For some, the thought of adding another class to an already extensive schedule sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen. For others, it may be a welcome change. I tend to fall into the latter category. As a college freshman at Clemson, I find myself often caught between my old high school life and the new life I make as a Tiger.

One option many other Tigers and I face is the question of extracurriculars — will we continue a cherished activity in college, or will we abandon it for other pursuits? How will we try out new things without the fear of wasting time?

As a student who plans on going down the pre-med track, I was particularly worried that my schedule would not allow me to sink my toes into new waters while at Clemson. However, I found that I was able to fit in some music classes with my schedule and enjoy the best of my studies as well as music, which I feared losing as I moved on to college.

Of course, there are many ways students can fit music into their undergraduate education, such as through clubs or varying levels of classes. Other Tigers may worry that they will not be as lucky through either course offering or availability.

Fortunately, Clemson has made great strides in connecting students with their passions with the leisure skills program — a collection of one-credit-hour classes of various activities that can be used for elective credits. These programs allow students to apply credits toward their undergraduate degrees while trying out a new activity or sport they might be interested in. These programs allow Clemson students to broaden their horizons without a serious, significant commitment and still gain credit hours.

There are a variety of activities students can participate in, including numerous sports, whitewater kayaking, scuba, dancing, riflery and even camping, among many others. Clemson boasts that the program offers over 150 options every semester. Some students may find these activities to align with their interests, while others may want a fun class to fit into their schedule every once in a while.

Whatever the case, this program combines recreation and instruction in a fun environment, and joining is as simple as registering for the class. Physical activities such as these can also reduce stress and improve student mental health.

So whether you feel there’s not enough room to fit anything in or that you’re wasting time trying out something new, know that I was in the same place. And there’s always a solution.

Peter Nguyen is a freshman psychology major from Lexington, South Carolina. Peter can be reached at [email protected].